Transformer unit



1953 E. GOSTYN 2,650,351

TRANSFORMER UNIT Filed Sept. 29, 1952 INVENTOR. ERA/EST GQSTY/V ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet l g- 25, 1953 E. GOSTYN 2,650,351

TRANSFORMER UNI T Filed Sept. 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iqfi i ,5, INVENTOR.

1 EQ/VEST 6057M Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE TRANSFORMER UNIT Application September 29, 1952, Serial No. 312,28

17 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a transformer unit of simplified construction suitable for use at high frequencies and in which the inductance of each of the coils may be individually adjusted while the coupling between the coils may be separately and independently adjusted, all in an extremely simplified manner.

It has been proposed in the past to form and mount inductance coils in such a way that their individual inductances may be varied by changing a physical dimension, usually the length of the coils themselves. It has also been known that the coupling between primary and secondary coils in a transformer unit may advantageously be varied by altering the spacing or orientation of one coil relative to the other. Structures which incorporate this mode of coupling adjustment have not in the past lent themselves for use with coils capable of operation at high frequencies nor with coils the individual inductance of which could be varied. Moreover, such structures have been bulky and complex, and consequently have not been adaptable to the miniaturization which is today a requisite in the manufacture of components for communications equipment.

The present invention has for its object the production of a transformer unit which is simple, small and sturdy in construction, which is easily assembled from inexpensive and readily manufactured components, which the inductance of each of the individual coils may be separately adjusted, and in which the degree of coupling between the coils may be independently adjusted over wide limits. To this end each of the coils is formed of a self-sustaining conductive material and is mounted on a support. In order to provide for adjustment of the inductance of a given coil, one end of that coil is mounted on the support so as to be adjustably movable substantially in the direction of the length of the coil, thereby permitting the length of the coil, and hence its self-inductance, to be varied. In order to provide for variation in the coupling between coils, an end of at least one of the coils is adjustably mounted on the support for movement in a direction substantially at right angles to the length of the coil, thereby permitting the orientation of that coil relative to the other coil to be varied, in this way producing a variation in coupling between the coils according to known electromagnetic principles.

To the accomplishment of the above and to su h th r obje ts as m y h rc nait pp 2 the present invention relates to a transformer structure as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is atop plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but taken from the rear;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the e o Fig- 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view oi a type of nut which may be employed in conjunction with the adiu tab itv 9 t d ree of coup in n Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing another embodiment of the invention in which the orientation of each coil relative to the suppo ma be a u ted- Referring first to the embodiments oi Figs. 1-6, the transformer unit comprises a support generally designated 2 and consisting of a vertically extending support plate 4 having extensions 6 and 8 projecting to opposite sides at the top thereof, each of those extensions having apertures l0 and I respectively through which adjusting screws l4 and iii are adapted to slide vertically. Secondary extensions [8 and 20 are provided beneath the extensions 6 and 8, the secondary extensions having non-circular apertures 22 and 24 respectively through which matingly shaped coil supporting bars 26 and 28 are adapted to slide vertically, the mating shape of bars and apertures preventing rotation of the bars within the apertures, the bars 26 and 28 in turn being fixedly secured to the adjusting screws 14 and I6 respectively. Each of the bars 26 and Z8 is provided with a notch 30, 32 into which upper ends 34, 3 6 of coils 33 and 40 resp e are adap ed o bere i d- T coils 38 and All are termed of conductive wire or ribbon having snmcient substantiality to be selfsustaining, the material of the coils 38 and 40 being resilient so that the coils 38 and 40 may be stretched, thus increasing their length and altering their inductance, without permanent distortion or set. The upper ends 34 and 36 of the coiis38 and.4il, after they pass through the notches Hand}? respectively, have extensions 39 nd .4 to wh h exte na a s a be cured. The lower ends .43 and 45 of the coils 3B and .45 are secured in position on the central support plate 4 so as not to be movable vertically to any appreciabledegree. The end 43 of the coil 38 fits within groove 44 in stud ib which projects out from one side of the support plate d. The end 45 of the coil 40 is secured between the head 48 of screw 50 and the outer face of an arcuately shaped boss 52 which projects out to the side of the support plate 4, the boss 52 having an elongated slot 54 through which the screw 50 extends. The side of the support plate opposite boss 52 and through which the aperture 54 extends is provided with a widened portion 56 within which internally threaded nut 58 is received, that nut having straight sides 65 corresponding to the edges of the widened portion 56 so that the nut will slide through the widened portion 55 without being rotatable therein. The coil ends 43 and 45 terminate in extensions 52 and 64 to which external leads may be secured. Adjusting nuts 66 and 58 are threaded over the upwardly projecting portions of the screws M and I6 respectively and rest upon the upper surfaces of the support extensions and 8.

It will be noted that the coils 38 and it are mounted on the support 2 only at their ends, the bodies of the coils being spaced from the support 2. The coils are mounted in position in a resiliently stretched condition, the coils tending to contract but that tendency being positively prevented by engagement between adjusting screws 66 and 68 respectively and the upper surfaces of the support extensions 6 and 8. Hence the length of each individual coil 38 and 4c, and consequently its oWn individual self-inductance, will be determined by the position of the adjusting nuts t5 and 58 relative to the screws i l and i5 threadedly received therewithin. Adjustment of the length of either of the coils 38 and it, and hence of the self-inductance of that coil, may readily be achieved through rotation of the appropriate adjusting nut 65 or 68, rotation of those nuts in a clockwise direction as viewed from above causing the corresponding adjusting screws M or it to rise, the ends 34 or 35 of the coils 38 or 35 being correspondingly lifted so as to elongate their coils.

As will be clear from an examination of Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the coils 38 and it, while mounted in parallel planes, are not parallel to one another but are instead angularly related. The angular position of the coil 3% relative to the support 2 I is fixed in the embodiment of Figs. 1-6, but the angular relation between the coil All and the support 2, and hence its angular relationship to the coil 38, may be varied within limits by loosening l the screw 48 and sliding that screw and the nut 53 along the elongated aperture 5 the end d5 of the coil 46 being carried along therewith to any desired position, the screw 18 then being tightened on its nut 58 so as to clamp the end Q5 of the coil 46 in desired position. The aperture 5 1 is J here shown as arcuate, with its center of curvature corresponding to a nominal position of the upper end 36 of the coil 40. When said upper coil end 36 is in its nominal position, movement of the lower coil end along the aperture will not cause any change in the length, and hence "the self-inductance, of the coil 48. If the upper coil end 36 is not in said nominal position, some slight change in coil length will necessarily result from adjustment of the coil orientation, but this can readily be compensated for through adjustment of the nut 58. Of course, the aperture 54 could be difierently oriented and difierently configured if desired.

The embodiment of Fig. '7 is substantially similar to that of the embodiment previously disclosed except for the fact that the lower coil ends 33 and 35 are both adjustable, bosses 52' and 5'2 being provided on opposite sides of the central support plate 4', each of these bosses being provided with elongated slots 54' and 54". In order to avoid interference between the lower ends 53 and 45 of the coils 38 and 40', the bosses 52 and 52", which overlap, are difierently vertically positioned. The apertures 54' and 55 also have different centers of curvature so that the nominal positions of the upper coil ends 3 3 and 36 have different vertical spacings. This, too, is not essential, but is merely adopted for convenience in adjustment.

It will be apparent that many variations in the arrangement of the coils and the direction, shape and extent of the orientation-adjusting slot or slots 55 may be made tocorrespond to the requirements of specific electrical situations. In the embodinrient of Figs. 1-6 the length of the slot 54 does not permit adjustment of the coil 40 parallelto the coil 58 for maximum coupling, but this could readily be accomplished merely by extending the length of the aperture 54. In the embodiment of Fig. 7 the two coils 38' and 40' may be positioned parallel to one another for maximum coupling, and are thus illustrated, but in that specific embodiment the spacing between the coils is appreciable. Obviously, simple changes in the spatial arrangement of the various parts could permit closer spacing of the coils.

The coil supporting structure may be conveniently molded in one piece of suitable plastic insulating material or, if desired, the extensions 5, 3, l8 and 29 may be formed separate from the central supporting plate 4 and secured thereto in any appropriate manner. In any event the supporting structure is simple and easily and inexpensively manufactured. The coils 38 and 40 may be preformed and can be secured in place on the supporting structure with great facility. Electrical connections may be made thereto rapidly and expeditiously both for testing and when the unit is actually installed in communications equipment or the like. The individual inductance of each coil may be controllably varied, and the coupling between the coils may also be varied independently of the self-inductance of the coils.

While but two embodiments of the present invention have been here disclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may be made therein, all within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A transformer unit comprising a support, a pair of coils the ends of which are secured to said support and the bodies of which are free of said support, one end of one of said coils being adjustably secured to .said support along a line substantially perpendicular to said coil and in a plane substantially parallel to said other coil, whereby the relative orientation of said coils, hence the coupling between them, may be varied.

2. The transformer unit of claim 1, in which one end of one of said coils is adjustably secured to said support along a line extending substantially in the same general direction as said coil, whereby the length of said coil, and hence its inductance, may be varied.

3. The transformer unit of claim 1, in which ends of each of said coils are adjustably secured aesopsi to said support along lines extending substantially in the same .genera l direction as said coils, whereby the length of saidcoils, and hence-their inductance, may be varied.

4. The transformer unit of claim 1, in which the other end of said'one of saidcoils is adjustably secured to said support along a line extending substantially in the same general direction as said coil, whereby the length of said coil, and hence its inductance, may 'be varied.

5. The transformer unit of claim 1, in which the other end of said one of said coils and the corresponding end of the other of said coils are adjustably secured to said support along lines extending substantially in the same general direction as said coils, whereby the length of said coils, and hence their inductance, may be varied.

6. A transformer unit comprising a support, a pair of coils the ends of which are secured to said support and the bodies of which are free of said support, corresponding ends of said coils being adjustably secured to said support along lines extending substantially in the same general direction as said coils, whereby the length of said 0011s, and hence their inductance, may be varied, the other ends of said coils being adjustably secured to said support along lines substantially perpendicular to said coils and in planes substantially parallel to said other coils, whereby the relative orientation of said coils, and hence the coupling between them, may be varied.

'7. A transformer unit comprising a support plate having extensions on opposite sides them of, coil supporting members respectively movably mounted on said extensions and individually longitudinally adjustable relative thereto, and a pair of coils, one on each side of said support plate, corresponding ends of said coils being operatively connected respectively to said supporting members and the other ends of said coils being secured to said support plate below said supporting members, the bodies of said coils being free of said support plate, longitudinal adjustment of said supporting members altering the length, and hence the inductance, of said coils.

8. The transformer unit of claim 7, in which said support plate is provided with an elongated aperture below one of said supporting members and extending substantially at right angles to the orientation of the corresponding one of said coils, said other end of said one of said coils being adjustably secured to the apertured portion of said support plate so as to be positionable along said aperture, the orientation of said one of said coils relative to said other coil thereby being alterable so as to vary the coupling between them.

9. The transformer unit of claim 7, in which said supporting plate is provided with a pair of elongated apertures below said supporting members and respectively extending substantially at right angles to the orientation of the corresponding coils, said other ends of said coils being respectively adjustably secured to the apertured portions of said support plate so as to be positionable along said apertures, their relative orientation thereby being alterable so as to vary the coupling between them.

10. The transformer unit of claim '7, in which supporting plate is provided with a pair of overlapping elongated apertures below said supporting members and respectively extending substantially at right angles to the orientation of the corresponding coils, said other ends of said coils being respectively adjustably secured to the apertured portions of said support .plate .so as to be positionable along said apertures, their relative orientation thereby being alterable so as to vary the coupling between them.

11. A transformer unit comprising a support plate havingeextensions on opposite sides thereof, coil supporting members respectively movably mounted on said extensions and individually longitudinally adjustable relative thereto, apertures in the ends of said supporting members, studs on opposite sides of said support plate below said supporting members, and a pair of coils, one on each side of said support plate, corresponding ends of said coils being respectively received within the apertures in said supporting members and the other ends of said coils being respectively mounted on said studs, longitudinal adjustment of said mounting members altering the length, and hence the inductance, of said coils.

12. The transformer unit of claim 11, in which said support plate is provided with an elongated aperture below one of said supporting membersand extending substantially at right angles to the orientation of the corresponding one of said coils, one of said studs being mounted in said. aperture so as to be adjustably positionable therealong, thereby altering the orientation of the coil mounted thereon relative to the other coil and thus varying the coupling between said coils.

13. The transformer unit of claim 11, in which said support plate is provided with a pair of elongated apertures below said supporting members and respectively extending substantially at right angles to the orientation of the correspond ing coils, said studs being respectively mounted in said apertures so as to be adjustably positionable therealong, thereby altering the orientation of said coils relative to one another and thus varying the coupling between them.

14. The transformer unit of claim 11, in which said support plate is provided with a pair of overlapping elongated apertures below said supporting members and respectively extending substantially at right angles to the orientation of the corresponding coils, said studs being respectively mounted in said apertures so as to be adjustably positionable therealong, thereby altering the orientation of said coils relative to one another and thus varying the coupling between them.

15. A transformer unit comprising a support plate, a separated pair of coil supporting members on each side of said support plate, and a pair of coils, one on each side of said support plate, corresponding ends of said coils being operatively connected respectively to a pair of said supporting members, the bodies of said coils being free of said support plate, said support plate being provided with an elongated aperture extending substantially at right angles to the orientation of one of said coils, one of said coil supporting members being adjustably secured to the apertured portion of said support plate so as to be movable therealong, thereby altering the orientation of the coil connected thereto with respect to the other coil and thus varying the coupling between said coils.

16. The transformer unit of claim 15, in which said support plate is provided with a second elongated aperture, a coil supporting member on the opposite side of said support plate from said one of said coil supporting members being adjustably secured to said second apertured portion of said Support plate so as to be movable therealong, wherebythe orientation of the coil attached to it may be independently altered relative to said support plate.

1'7. A transformer unit comprising a support, a pair of separated coil supporting members on each side of said support plate, and a pair of coils, one on each side of said support plate, corresponding ends of said coils being operatively connected respectively to said mounting 10 members, the bodies of said coils being free of said support plate, said support plate being provided with an elongated aperture extending substantially at right angles to the orientation of one of said coils, one of said coil mounting members comprising a stud receivable within and adjustably positionable along said aperture.

ERNEST GOSTYN.

No references cited. 

